Parasites
Can be killed with Wormwood, and black walnut tincture.
Overactive thyroid
Can be treated with lemon balm.
In most cases there are other herbs that can substitute for the ones
mentioned here, but to list them all would take up too much space.
This summary has not even scratched the surface of what can be
accomplished with the use of herbs; but is included here so that you
will have hope, and be encouraged to find some answers for yourself. Chances are that if you have any kind of a medical problem,
there is an herb for it!
Windmills
A very viable alternative energy source after the pole shift could be
the windmill. Even in our modern society, with all its high-tech
advantages, people are looking back into the past to discover that
the windmill is a pollution-free way to obtain electricity … back
into the past for the idea; but forward again to the present, where we
find the imagination and ingenuity, as well as the technology, to
expand on this idea. Some high-tech marvels have been constructed,
and wonderful aids for their creation have been fashioned; but
unless your settlement is rich enough to go that way, your group will
likely be looking at some home-made alternatives, and there are
plenty of these available.
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The subject of windmills and how to build them is a vast one; and
for this summary to undertake descriptions of all the products
available would run counter to our attempt to keep this booklet brief
and portable. As an example, included above is a sketch showing
how such a windmill might be constructed from a lawn mower.
There are, however, certain factors worthy of mention. For example: no matter which windmill you choose to go with, it will
likely require battery power.
Golf cart batteries are recommended, since they are long lasting,
are eminently salvageable (because they are all over the place),
and can be easily recharged.
Placing your windmill on top of a ridge will lead to better
performance; however the caution here is that it may be seen by
others who do not necessarily have your group’s best interest at
heart. Recommended height, whether for a tower or ridge
placement, is 70-80 feet.
Wind speed, wind focus, and blade size are factors which should
be taken into account.
Ensure that your windmill meets the community’s requirements.
Check exactly how many watts each connected appliance will
need, and how many watts it will take to run essential appliances
at the same time.
Ensure that your windmill can be manually maintained, easily
disassembled and stored in a safe place, or otherwise equipped
to combat continuous high winds, or microbursts. Microbursts
can contain short-duration winds of up to 200 miles per hour).
When high winds occur, smaller machines could be disassembled; larger ones could be equipped with a braking device
which will automatically lock the blades.
If you are in a colder climate, ice will be your enemy.
A downwind generator is less subject to stress.
Replacement spare parts are going to be needed to keep your
energy source viable. If it moves, it’s going to eventually wear
out; but spare parts for windmills will also be a great bartering
tool in the after-time.
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Caveat: Ensure that the area around your windmill can be accessed
only by those who are responsible for maintenance. Propellers are
dangerous things which could be responsible for severed fingers,
limbs, or worse, lost lives.
Hydroelectric
Possibly the cheapest form of renewable energy is going to be some
type of waterwheel. There are different kinds, but all will do the
same thing—provide your settlement with a reliable source of
electricity-hydro power steadily charges 12, 24, or 48V batteries
working 24 hours a day, every day. Depending on the geography of
your particular site, different systems may apply to you. For example, if you are living near a small mountain stream, or in a hilly
area with streams abounding, the “high-head” system can take
advantage of the altitude drop and may be the one for you.
The Micro Hydro-electric System
One of our Troubled Times Members
has worked up the requirements for
such a system, but one other raises
cautions against connecting batteries in
this way, since cells in a series for
charging can actually decrease efficiency and if one cell
becomes shorted the other will be exposed to excess charging
voltage, and this could result in failure of the whole system.
Pelton Waterwheel
There are four systems: High Head Turbines, Medium Head
Reaction Turbines, Low Head Turbines, and Flow-of Stream
Turbines (gear pumps). As mentioned above, the geography
of your particular site must determine which system is right
for your settlement. It is recommended that your group research this area thoroughly, since there is a lot of documentation on hydroelectric systems. Sites with higher head are most
desirable because they need less water, smaller pipe, fewer
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nozzles, and fare better in low water years; plus system
installation is cheaper.
Amazon Aquacharger
This would also be something for your group to take a look at.
The Aquacharger is a turbine, generator, and control system
designed to operate on an ordinary open, moored boat, and
can run for 24 hours a day, unattended. Power generated is
stored in batteries to handle 12V appliances such as lighting,
refrigerators, etc., and inverters to operate 240V applications.
According to its web page, this is a system which is simple to
assemble, dismantle, and transport for relocation, a definite
plus for the after-time.
Aquagens (Water Generators)
These are towed, water-driven generators; but before you
start assigning people to flip around your site towing these
things along, observe the diagram below. This portrays a
method for building such a generator on an anchored, floating
platform. It would be worth at least looking into a system
such as this one.
Once again, it must be pointed out that this is a vast subject, and that
much documentation is available therefor, and there is still time to
carry out the research to determine which particular energy source
would be best suited to your site. Keep in mind that Hydro power is
more stable and easier to set up than wind. All one needs is an
induction motor run pump (run it in reverse with enough pipe to run
up stream to get sufficient head pressure); a proper size AC capacitor to tune it for AC generating, and a battery to zap it to get it
started.
Steam
We must put our faith and our resources into more tried and true
energy-producing methods, and one of these is the production of
steam. The use of steam engines is an old concept whose time, in a
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smaller package, may come again. Just as an example, from Jade
Mountain comes the 5HP Liberty which produces up to 2000 Watts
and heats 50 gallons of water from ambient
to boiling each hour. If your group has
decided to opt for wind power, such a boiler
could be used as a backup for cloudy days
when there is no wind, or it could be your
main energy source. This boiler is cited
merely as an example. There are many others available on the
market which could be better suited to your purposes.
There is nothing very complicated about setting up and using a steam
engine. Components could be stashed until after the pole shift, and
then be reassembled by the mechanically minded of your community.
We tend to think of steam engines as the heavy monsters that run
things like locomotives. If steam power is to be used to supplement
other forms of energy, a low-pressure boiler system is more than
sufficient to drive, say, a waterwheel. There would be another
benefit: steam engines require distillers, so that a byproduct of its
use would be distilled, “safe” drinking water, a must after the pole
shift.
Remember, though, that steam production itself is dependent upon
another form of fuel, and in the absence of coal and/or oil, this is
probably going to be wood or something alcohol-based. There will
likely be a lot of wood available from downed trees, and this may
be abundant on your site. Alcohol, which is a bio-fuel, could prove
more difficult.
Lubrication
Keeping your steam engine lubricated is going to be important. Mineral- and naturally-derived oils were used with some
success in circumstances similar to pole shift conditions,
although it is unlikely that mineral oil will be available, at
least in the immediate after-time. The use of Gulf Coast
filters, which will recycle the oil that you use, should extend
your lubricating power for a few more years.
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Caution
The invisibility of steam does make it dangerous to handle,
but hopefully only experts will be engaged in this activity.
Spare Parts
As well as the chief components for your steam system,
remember to bring as many spare parts as you can. If you
know what you are doing, boilers can be assembled from
scavenged car parts and other such scrap metal after the pole
shift.
Bio-Fuels
After the pole shift, gasoline will not be available; therefore we are
going to have to get creative. There are replacements for gasoline,
alternative fuels which, though some of them are clumsy to produce
and may very well be put into the category of “backup” sources, are
mentioned here in the interests of “throwing ideas into the pot”,
ideas which may spark the imaginations of some of your group
members, so that maybe more innovative ways of producing such
fuels, or at least making them more viable, may be forthcoming.
Methane Gas
This is a gas produced by all kinds of biodegradable waste. It
burns hotter than, say, natural gas, therefore less gas is required to perform the same energy tasks. Technology exists to
store and capture this gas, and care must be taken, when doing
this, NOT to let oxygen mix with it. This is a form of fuel
used quite extensively in the Third World, and there is plenty
of documentation for research by your community. Remember,
too, that the muck which causes methane can be used as
fertilizer after its utilization in this regard is over. If enough
gas can be produced, it will run your generators and provide
electricity. Very little needs to be done, for example, to a
Diesel motor to make it run on methane gas. Tough to compress, methane is better used to run stationary motors. Page
123 of the Readers’ Digest book, Back to Basics, shows a
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methane digester, and a small methane storage tank.
Bio-Diesel Fuel
A most useful resource in this regard is the book by Joshua
Tickell, From the Fryer to the Fuel Tank, how to make cheap,
clean fuel from Free Vegetable Oil. This contains all you will
probably ever need to know about making bio-Diesel fuel.
There are many presses available for pressing seeds to make oil
for these fuels, and as much information to demonstrate how it is
done. This is a proven technology that will, however, depend on
the ability of your group to produce enough vegetables and oilgenerating enough seeds to make bio-Diesel fuel a viable reality.
Wood Gas
Wood gasification,
also known as producer gas generation,
is considered to be
possibly the safest way
to create alternative
fuel. Producing gas
from solid wood is a
simple technological step. There is much documentation concerning both production and use, including cautions that must be
observed. Wood gas is conveniently handled and can be burned
in various existing devices. A properly designed burner combining wood and air is one relatively safe way of doing this. Production of wood gas can be achieved in two ways – incomplete
combustion, or destructive distillation. With the destructive
distillation method other forms of fuel are generated (albeit in
smaller quantities), chief among these being methane gas, which
might make up 75% of the mixture thus produced. Either production route will yield an easily handled fuel quite capable of
replacing fossil fuels, natural gas, or liquefied petroleum gases.
Wood gas can also be stored at low pressure – 3 to 5 psi – in a
simple tank. This fuel has been very successfully used to run a
car, as the car with attached burner in the photo above; so why
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not a good-sized generator, particularly as there will be a lot of
charred wood and dead trees lying around after the pole shift.
Another benefit of this setup is plenty of charcoal, which can be
used for cooking, heating, and firing the wood gas maker.
Alcohol
The technology for making fuel from alcohol has long been
available, and as of now, alcohol is relatively easy to make.
Rendered more difficult, however, by post-pole shift conditions,
making fuel grade alcohol will be even harder. For use as a
motor fuel, alcohol needs to be 180-190 proof.
Ethanol
Of the alcohol-based fuels, Ethanol seems the best for our purposes. In this society, Ethanol is mostly used to make an Ethanol/
gasoline blend, but Ethanol is a fuel in its own right, and has
been used in Brazil in its pure form for the last two decades.
Although Ethanol is clean-burning and environmentally friendly,
all alcohol-based fuels are corrosive. This corrosiveness can be
offset by the modification of engines to better accommodate these
types of fuel, but this will likely have to be done before the pole
shift, so your plans must be pretty specific in this regard. Some
yeasts have been genetically modified (such as Saccharomyces
yeast) to ferment both glucose and xylose simultaneously into
Ethanol, rendering the process of making Ethanol both faster, and
less expensive. However, the trick will be to obtain a culture of
such yeast before the pole shift, if alcohol-based fuels are going
to be important to your group. This yeast still produces some biproducts that must be removed from the Ethanol; but the ability to
ferment glucose and xylose simultaneously enables more fuel to
be made from an amount of plant material.
Methanol
This has also been suggested as an alternative fuel, however it is
quite poisonous as well as being corrosive. It is also not the
easiest thing to ferment, particularly as the process of manufacturing alcohol-based fuel is in any case problematical.
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Another benefit: Although alcohol is going to be difficult to make,
both for drinking purposes and fuel production, there is an added
benefit which would make the effort worth your while. Mix alcohol
(the drinking kind!) with herbs, and you have a great medicinal
tincture. Use any part of an herb (but roots are especially good), cut
into pieces and place in a closed container with just enough alcohol
to cover it. Let it sit for a minimum of 14 days (but the longer you
eave it the stronger it will get), shaking it one or more times a day.
Using some kind of filter (a fine mesh cloth is good), squeeze out as
much of the liquid as possible, filtering out the larger particles. If
the first batch is not strong enough, you can do a second batch with
the results from the first, using the squeezed-out liquid as if it were
fresh alcohol. Echinacea is a good immune system booster, and a
good candidate for this kind of tincture.
It must be pointed out that the subject of alternative energy is vast,
and there are other fuels, and methods of making them, which have
not been mentioned here. Your community is urged to research this
topic thoroughly, and keep an eye out for future developments.
Alternatives
In the matter of fuel, there is not much which is conveniently available now that will be so after the pole shift. For example:
Solar
Due to the lack of bright sunlight for at least two decades, this
fledgling technology will also be useless to us. Particularly in
the case of solar energy, much hope is being pinned on its use,
and it is time to look reality squarely in the face and realize
that any such hope in this setting is false and misleading.
Coal
Unless you are sitting on top of a coal mine, and have the
technology and resources to access it, this will not be a viable
form of fuel after the pole shift.
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Oil
The same goes for conventional oil. Even if there is a well
smack in the middle of your site, the likelihood of your group
having the technology to refine the crude is not great.
Geothermal
Let’s be very clear about this: you don’t want to be anywhere
near today’s known geothermal sites when the pole shift hits.
They are likely to get much more than their fair share of “rock ‘n
roll”, and will be dangerous places in which to be. Because the
pole shift will break up tectonic plates into smaller fragments,
new geothermal sites will be created. However, even in countries riding a fault, like Iceland, there are only a few places
where this heat surfaces. Mostly you have to dig and drill for it,
and without today’s machines, accessing geothermal heat, if it is
not already present, is going to be impossible. Should chance or
foresight put you near a usable geothermal source after the pole
shift, its most common use will be water distillation.
At this point, you and your group have established a
high tech settlement, self sustaining and secure.
Communications with the outside world,
to check on loved ones elsewhere
and to share information with other communities,
will now become your focus.
It is this setting that the next topics address.
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Communications
Given the distances between settlements, the difficulty or nonexistence of transportation, and the dangers inherent in traveling around
after the pole shift, ways must be found for settlements to communicate. The Internet as we know it will be dead; there will be no
phones, no satellite links, nothing of our modern communications
network will be left, and it is up to us now, while there is still time,
to devise a way for people to keep in touch, when keeping in touch
could mean the difference between life and death for some, or all, of
your community. Here below are some of the ways in which this
could be accomplished; and these ideas, plus anything else your
group can come up with, should be implemented and practiced upon,
so that all in your group having charge of communications can
familiarize themselves thoroughly with their use.
Shortwave Radio
Used extensively for emergency communications when the
grid has been rendered useless, this means of interaction
between various communities is the primary source of hope
for the after-time. This will be difficult, especially in the
beginning as the atmosphere will be full of junk thrown up by
the aftermath of the pole shift. The ionosphere, upon which a
lot of ham radio communication relies, will be ripped away;
and because of all the turmoil experienced by the Earth,
communications will be disrupted immediately after the pole
shift. However, by the time radios are working, the ionosphere will have re-formed, but will be nearer to the Earth.
Because of this a different angle of bounce will have to be
achieved for shortwave communication to be effective.
But ham radio operators are resourceful,
and there are methods which, with a little
tweaking, could be used to compensate,
things such as groundwaves, moon
bounce (although this would require
fairly sophisticated equipment, and some scheduling since
both the transmitting and receiving stations must be able to see
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the moon), and meteor scatter propagation. This does depend,
though, on knowing when and where the meteor trails are going
to occur, so it may not be quite as useful post pole shift. However, since the Earth’s atmosphere will likely be bombarded with
meteor debris as the 12th Planet is passing, in the time just prepole shift, this will be a good means of communication. This is a
vast and fascinating subject, and all ham operators are familiar
with ways to compensate when preferred methods of communication are unavailable. Ensure therefore that you have a few ham
radio operators in your group; this will save your lives, probably
more than once.
Morse Code
Easiest of all transmitters to build is one that will generate
Morse code; so that if, for any reason, telephony cannot be
supported at your site, communication with other sites can be
achieved with Morse. As a matter of fact, if you have any old
TV’s or other wireless equipment around, a one-valve AM
transmitter which operates in the low end of HF (say 80 meters)
could be built. It will transmit globally, and would require no
shielding from electromagnetic pulses, as valves are not particularly sensitive to EMP. Also, a valve is a lot easier to unplug
and store than is a solid-state radio, if EMP is a source of concern. Morse code is simple to learn but does take a good deal of
practice, but it is certain that the effort will be well worth your
while.
CB Radio
Simple to operate and requiring no license, the CB radio looks
good for local communications in the after-time. Having a range
of approximately 15 miles, the only problem with this could be if
you have a site with a lot of hills, since hills would block your
transmissions. If you have a license, a 2-meter handheld radio
would be useful in this regard.
Packet Radio
This is going to be one of the best ways to communicate. A
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terminal node controller sits between the radio transmitter and
a computer, enabling either CW or digital communication.
There are many advantages here. Packet radio needs no
external controls, and your station would not have to be
listening all the time. Keeping the radio on at your site could
be a serious drain on power resources, plus this could facilitate your whereabouts being traced. Messages could be sent
with the packet radio’s email facility, followed by a fast
shutdown of the system. Digital mode would probably mostly
be used to send information from one settlement to another,
such as medical texts, etc.
Towers, Antennas, and Repeaters
Each of these three components has the ability to “stretch”
radio communications, but each could also be a source of
danger. High towers and long antennas could stick out like
sore thumbs in an empty landscape, and would declare your
presence loudly to any interested party. Repeaters, requiring
their own power sources and also needing to be placed at
some distance from the base station, would necessitate trips
from the settlement for equipment maintenance, which increases the likelihood of running into undesirables. Direct
settlement-to-settlement communications using a rotating
antenna could be a more viable proposition; but this would
not diminish the likelihood of your community being detected.
Also, we must remember that to be most effective, arrangements
concerning radio communication should optimally to be made
between communities before the pole shift occurs, since, due to the
difficulties inherent in any after-time communication, the chances for
spontaneous location of other settlements on the air are not good.
Self Defense
When we think about self defense, two concepts mainly spring to
mind: one is defense by the use of the martial arts; the other, a plea
at a murder trial. But when considered in conjunction with the pole
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shift and the after-time, self defense must take on a much broader
perspective, and must literally mean “self defense”, as in defending
oneself and one’s community against everything from wild animals
to looters, from inclement weather to out-and out assaults upon the
land by nature; from the threat of disease, to the onslaughts upon our
persons of life itself. In a way, this whole booklet could be considered a self defense handbook; here below are some simple pointers
through which communities and individuals can defend themselves
from the more obvious and prevalent dangers.
Low Profile
This is one of the best self defense mechanisms that could be
employed by a community. This should be cultivated even
before the pole shift comes upon us. Do not go around telling
people who don’t share your views (or even those who do,
but are not planning membership in your community) where
your location is, what kind of supplies you are going to
stockpile, where those supplies are going to be hidden, or
give any details at all concerning your preparations. Falling
into the trap of boasting to perceived friends could get you
and your group into an awful lot of trouble, should these
persons survive the pole shift and, either through sheer laziness or just plain disbelief, have failed to make their own
preparations. After the pole shift, keeping a low profile will
mean camouflaging your site to the best of your ability—
windows that can be heavily shuttered are one option. It has
been suggested that a building with no windows at all might
be a good idea, but not if some members of your group are
claustrophobic; however, having windows that can be uncovered at safe times may or may not contribute a lot to the
morale of those inside the building, depending on whether or
not they can face what is out there, both weather wise, and
with respect to the changed landscape. This is a decision
your group will have to make beforehand. And especially in
the time right after the pole shift, being careful about communication with the outside world could be most important.
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Diversification
As far as it is possible, do not put your eggs in one basket; in
other words, divide up your supplies and cache them in different
places. Thus if one cache is found and looted, your community
will not be left with no life options. If, in the present, you are
ordering supplies by mail, do not have them sent to the address of
your survival site. If a backup survival site is feasible, this
would be another ideal solution, but for most, setting up one
survival site is going to be difficult enough. Whatever your
situation in this regard, ensure that you have a planned escape
route in the event that disaster strikes. Provide each member of
your group with a survival package and make certain that these
are always kept close at hand. In the event that your group
should become separated, at least survival will be possible until
you can find each other again.
Alarms
If you have a fairly high-tech settlement, there are motion detection devices which could be adapted to emit a sound to alert
those inside to the arrival of intruders. Low-tech, but just as
effective, would be a perimeter alarm—something as simple as a
trip wire attached to something noisy, such as one or more tin
cans filled with stones. A constant patrol of your camp would be
a great idea, as would a night watch. Also, if you have people in
your group who have an aptitude for espionage, scouts could be
sent out every so often to see who or what is near, so that the
threat to your community could be assessed and planned for,
before it comes upon you.
Weapons
This is something that will have to be discussed by communities,
and discussed thoroughly. Once you have committed yourselves
to an option, it will be too late to change it after the pole shift. If
you do decide that weaponry is a must, then consider the “silent”
option. A noisy battle could attract helpers or rescuers, but
could also bring other enemies. Ensure that those who will be
handling your weapons are thoroughly familiar with them, and
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well trained in their use. Failure in this regard could result
not only in destruction of your community through outside
forces, but in some circumstances, destruction from the inside
by those who do not know what they are about. Remember
too that children and weapons do not mix or that, if they do,
the mixture usually produces tragic results; so that particularly
if guns are your choice, keep them in a secure place, but one
with easy access.
Site Selection
The location and layout of your site could be extremely
important. Besides roving gangs of hooligans, there will
probably be military types around, with only their own best
interests at heart. These soldiers may have vehicles, and it
might be wise to choose a survival site into which these
vehicles cannot penetrate. Superior firepower is also a good
possibility; so that if your site is invaded by the military, and
no other course presents itself, abandon the site so that you
and your community can live to build another day. In other
words, discretion is very definitely the better part of valor.
Be totally familiar with your site, even though the layout may
be changed after the pole shift. The more familiar you are
with it before hand, the better your grasp of such changes will
be. Be very aware of all your supply caches. Such familiarity will give you the upper hand when it comes to your own
survival, even if escape is the only thing that you can plan.
Transport
Imagine a world where there are no bus stops to wait for that handy
bus; no subways or trains to quickly transport us to where we need
to be; no planes to whisk us to the other side of the globe in a hurry;
and, perhaps worst of all, no cars! Bad as the transportation system
in your city might be, it will appear, in retrospect, as a model of
perfect scheduling and blinding speed, as you are perhaps slogging
through the mud and debris of a post pole shift world. Not only will
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there be no fuel available to run any kind of transportation system,
but the nature of the terrain itself will render such a system impossible. Roads will be torn up, bridges down, and your highways a
muddy mess. Traveling around post pole shift will not only be
extremely difficult and hazardous with regard to the terrain, but, at
least in the beginning of the after-time, because of the roving gangs
intent on perpetrating all kinds of assaults upon the unwary, will be
downright dangerous. If, however, you must travel, either because
you are on foot, or because there is somewhere you absolutely have
to be, there are ways to go that will render this exercise, if not easy,
then at least a viable proposition.
Tires and Wheels
Tires, obviously, are going to be a problem. Automobile tires
are too heavy; bicycle tires too light. Fix flat tires by stuffing
as much stiff foam rubber (tight cell is best, but open cell
works) into the tire as you can get, and still have the ability to
put the tire back together. Foam may have to be cut into
smaller pieces in order to accomplish this. Also, stuffing the
small pieces into the tube first, stuffing the tube into the tire,
and prying it onto the rim would be another way. Not as easy
as it sounds; but the results would be worth the effort. Easier
right now to purchase pre-shaped foam tube replacements
from stores such as Wall Mart, put in just like the tube. Tubetype tires can probably be made near-puncture proof by filling
with two parts foaming rubber, or flat fix, available at autoparts houses, or, alternatively, a 2 part epoxy mix (the softer,
more rubbery type). Theoretically you could wear the rubber
off and still keep going. No matter what decision you make,
patches for tube tires should be kept in stock. Generally,
things with larger diameter wheels are easier to push or pull
by hand, especially over rough ground. Wider wheels work
best for mud and sand, and although larger diameter wheels
would be best for our application, one must take into account
the mass and weight of these wheels as compared to the mass
to be moved so as to keep the unit light and efficient. For
stability, wheels should be a good distance apart, with the
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load close to the ground, and near the center of the axle.
Carts
One way to move things around in the after-time could be provided by carts which could be adapted for use over rough
ground. One of the best suggestions is an old military cart used
to carry ammunition, if you can find such a thing. These are
expensive, but would take a lot of abuse, and have solid tires.
Garden carts, large-wheeled furniture dollies, and large red
wagons are also good possibilities. Another great option is a
double-wheeled hunting cart. These vehicles are rugged, and
will go through any terrain, easily pulled by one or two people.
An added benefit here is that when not being used for transportation, this will serve as a cot! And then there is always the “pack
trailer”. Can be purchased now from recreational or camping
suppliers, but could easily be assembled, should the need arise,
likely with things just lying around after the shift. One of our
Troubled Times members, five foot six and 150 lbs, claims she
has no trouble pulling one of these trailers on camping trips, and
documentation on their construction is out there for your group to
follow.
Boats
There will be a lot of water around after the shift, and it would
be well to be prepared for this. There are many boats that could
be taken with us into the after-time, which could now be cheaply
bought and stored against the need. Besides all of the rubber
dinghies, canoes, rafts etc. that would fill this bill, there is one
boat which would be great for this application, and this is the
paddleboat. Using no gasoline and no oars, all it requires is
strong leg muscles, and there you have your local transportation!
Of course if you wish to live on the water, you could have builtin transport with a houseboat.
Bicycles
These may not be able to be used immediately after the shift, but
should be taken into the after-time, in whole or in part, for use
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later, when perhaps, in some parts of the world at least, the mud
and debris will have settled down a little. One of the suggested
vehicles which may work is an off-road mountain bike with
puncture-proof tires. The Quadra cycle, or quad recumbent
pedal car, looks like a really interesting mode of transportation,
at least over flat terrain.
Electric
Electric tractors and off-road vehicles become practical if a
power source is carried for recharging or, alternatively, if the
traveler can stay close to a fixed-location generator. The advantage of an electric tractor would be its ability to pull behind it a
trailer for family and possessions. Primarily suitable for flat,
windy terrain, there are some interesting ideas out there right
now for the design of a “sailboat” type car, and your community
would do well to mount some research in this area.
Motor Homes
It appears that motor homes may be too lightly constructed to be
of much use during or after the shift, and although this could be
remedied, one or two domes could probably be built for the same
cost.
Snow
If you are in a winter climate, snowshoes and skis would facilitate traveling.
Birth Control
This is a very tricky issue under any circumstances, but one which
must be addressed thoroughly by your group before the pole shift
comes upon us. There will be young women in your community
eager and willing to have children, but the pros and cons must be
very carefully weighed. What are your present resources? How
sustainable are those resources, and what is the prognosis for
adding to them in the future? What is the state of health of your
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group, and are conditions on your site optimal for supporting children? These and many other questions should be asked and answered before a decision is made as to whether or not your community should bring children into the world, and as to when this should
be done. It will not be a question of one family deciding to have a
child; the whole community must be involved. Here below are a few
different methods of contraception; but whether or not you decide to
use them, or any others, is entirely up to you.
Herbal Contraceptives
Queen Anne’s Lace is the herb mostly mentioned in this
regard, but from a reliable source comes the information that
results, when using herbs as contraceptives, are not consistent.
Plug and Play
From the Aboriginals of Australia comes this method which is
crude, but effective. It requires some primitive surgery. A
hole is made in the base of the male penis, into which a
wooden plug can be inserted. During intercourse this plug is
removed, enabling ejaculation to take place through the hole
in the base of the penis. When conception is desired, the plug
is left in place. Not exactly an attractive solution, but desperate situations do require desperate measures.
The Acid Test
One suggested method is to insert a vinegar-soaked sponge
into the vagina, prior to intercourse. A piece of string attached to the sponge will ensure retrieval after some hours.
The acid will cause an environment hostile to sperm. It must
be assumed that the juice of any citrus fruit will have the same
effect.
Modern Contraceptives
If you are planning on taking supplies of anything into the
after-time, things like birth control pills and condoms aren’t
going to take up that much space. Just as an example, 48
condoms would take up less space than a small roll of toilet
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paper; a year’s supply of birth control pills would occupy the
space of a 16-ounce jar of peanut butter. Your biggest problem could even be collecting such pills, unless you have a
physician who is willing to prescribe a year’s supply. But
certainly for the immediate after-time it might be as well to
have these things available.
Sterilization
More drastic than some of the above-mentioned methods and
likely to be safer, would be sterilization. But both vasectomies and tubal ligations have been known to fail, and if this is
going to be done, it should be performed at least a year before
the pole shift, since if these methods are going to fail, they
usually do so within the first year.
Modern means of contraception have not always been available, and
any that you take with you into the after-time are not going to last
forever. Cultures previous to ours must have had their own methods
of dealing with this situation. And remember, the safest of all birth
control methods—but the least fun—is total abstinence.
This concludes the offering by Troubled Times, Inc.
of solutions to problems that would be
presented by a catastrophy such as a pole shift
and life immediately afterwards.
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